Just back from an extraordinarily good performance of Catch Me If You Can at the Hale Center Theater in Orem.  The two leads (Andrew Robertson as Frank Abagnale, Jr., and Patrick Livingston as FBI agent Carl Hanratty) were very strong, and the choreography — I usually don’t care much about dance — was outstanding.   We are (as I think will be obvious to anybody who’s paid much attention to this blog) faithful attendees at Utah’s Hale theaters.  (It... Read more

    I think this is a brilliant idea:   http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tabernacle-735010-church-johnson.html   What a fantastic teaching tool.  I would love to see it used in and around my own area.   The final presentation at our recent Interpreter temples conference was on the origin, creation, and use of these replicas.     Read more

    The always interesting Ralph Hancock published this article in the Deseret News last week:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865666739/Religious-freedom-vs-new-state-religion.html?pg=all     Read more

    Just a reminder of the Church’s approaching Christmas initiative:   https://www.mormon.org/christmas/teaser   I’ve signed up for notifications.  I hope you will, too.     Read more

    I don’t know what Mr. Trump or his administration might have in mind.  Mr. Trump hasn’t exactly been noted for the systematic rigor or consistency of his policy thinking.  And I recognize the need for security and share concerns on that score.  But this sort of thing demands very careful watching:   http://www.businessinsider.com/megyn-kelly-muslim-registry-2016-11     Read more

    Today’s iteration of my weekly Deseret News column:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865667383/The-many-uses-of-apologetics.html     Read more

    My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.  Michel de Montaigne     Read more

    http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/christchurch-latter-day-saints-mobilize-to-support-communities-hit-by-earthquake       Read more

    I don’t know how many people the musical has brought into the Church.  Not many, I would guess.  But not zero, either.  Here’s one such story:   http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2016/11/15/how-irreverent-book-mormon-led-one-nashville-mans-conversion/93447544/     Read more

    Indeed he could.   http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/11/16/syrian-president-assad-claims-trump-could-be-natural-ally.html       Read more